A gunfire incident during a rave in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau resulted in one fatality and five individuals sustaining injuries in the early hours of Sunday, as per reports from local authorities and media sources. The police have stated that they are actively pursuing a suspect linked to the incident.
Law enforcement mentioned on X that the search for the unidentified perpetrator is in progress, with the motives and specifics surrounding the crime yet to be fully determined. According to the cantonal police on X, a 22-year-old female succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 27, were transported to the hospital with injuries of varying severity.
All the victims are Swiss residents, as confirmed by the police, who refrained from disclosing their identities in adherence to Swiss privacy regulations.
A police representative, Pascal Wenzel, informed the Swiss public broadcaster SRF that the authorities were notified about the shooting incident in Aarau, the capital of the canton, around 2:30 a.m. Aarau’s Schachen district was hosting the “Aarau Rave VOL. 7” when the tragic event unfolded. The fire department cordoned off a significant area surrounding the venue.
A comprehensive manhunt operation was launched, urging locals to avoid the vicinity. A substantial presence of police, firefighters, and ambulances was observed on-site. Additionally, reports from the German news agency dpa indicated that authorities in Freiburg, Germany, were also engaged in the search for the suspect.
Eyewitnesses at the rave initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks until a call to take cover was raised. The shooting occurred immediately after the conclusion of the event, as reported by Swiss daily Blick. Subsequently, the remaining attendees were relocated to a nearby gym under police supervision.
Authorities have urged anyone possessing videos or photos of the incident to cooperate by sharing them with the police for investigation purposes.